Switching to Synthetic & OCI impact

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LarryOil

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Jun 24, 2009
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Location
Cambridge, Ontario
Hi Folks,

I'm hoping to get a good recommendation for my particular situation because I've reached a crossroads and don't know what to do.

OK, so I have a 2004 Camry 2AZ-FE 4-cyl with approx 215,000 kms on it. Previously was driven 90+% on highway, now it is 75-90% city only of less than 7 km trips one way. 1-year mileage will be less than 12000 kms.

Currently running Toyota 5w30 conventional with OEM filter. Due for Oil Change in November. Car does not currently burn oil, but does not like starting in the cold.

Planning on switching to synthetic then with a planned 6 month OCI (Pennzoil Platinum or Amsoil XL 5w30), but a friend is suggesting to go to 1-year with Amsoil ASL 5w30. He thinks SSO would be a waste since due to my low yearly mileage.

Locally (Cambridge, Ontario, Canada) I can get various FRAM brands, K&N, Toyota Denso OEM, Carquest Red/Blue and the Amsoil Eao. I have not had luck finding any other brands locally.

I'm not entirely confident in running oil for 1-year so I'm leaning towards the 6-month OCI with a OEM or Carquest Blue filter.

Thoughts and recommendations?

P.S. I tried posing this in oil filters with not much luck so mods please delete that one less I incur your wrath.

Cheers
 
Pennzoil platinum and a Denso filter. Change out at 7K KM and drive happy!

Steve
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Id agree with PP or M1 and a denso first time fit filter. Good combo. I wouldnt worry at all. Ive found on our various vehicles, all with varying use profiles, that OCIs can generally be extended up to double without issue with a good syn oil.

You should do UOA to verify in case youre getting dilution of some sort.
 
JHZR2 makes a good point re UOA's and you should closely monitor the first couple of changes as the PP might be cleaning some of the residue left behind from conventional oil use and your high mileage.

You might even want to switch to Valvoline HM oil for a couple of changes 5K KM and a Denso filter to allow it to do some cleaning and soften any hardened seals, then switch over to Platinum.

Just a thought.
wink.gif
 
Unfortunately, UOA's are not in the cards at all for me.

Is there a danger from switching to Conventional to Synthetic without a bridge OCI of High Mileage. Will the seals be that bad?
 
There is no danger except you may see leaks or your oil filter may plug up with gunk as cleaning is going on. I would recommend a few 5K mile OCI's with a good HM oil before switching to a syn. This will ensure your engine is clean with soft seals and ready to accept synthetic with no issues.

Seals harden over time and conventional oils can increase this problem by leaving residue on the seals. Then a syn comes along cleans this junk up and you have a leak because the residue was plugging the gap between the shrunken seal and the engine.

Not trying to scare you or make it out to be a big problem, but to ensure you have as little problem as possible going from a conventional oil to a syn, I would run some high mileage oil runs in between.

Think of it as a tune up before putting on a performance part.
wink.gif
 
Originally Posted By: StevieC
There is no danger except you may see leaks or your oil filter may plug up with gunk as cleaning is going on. I would recommend a few 5K mile OCI's with a good HM oil before switching to a syn. This will ensure your engine is clean with soft seals and ready to accept synthetic with no issues.

Seals harden over time and conventional oils can increase this problem by leaving residue on the seals. Then a syn comes along cleans this junk up and you have a leak because the residue was plugging the gap between the shrunken seal and the engine.

Not trying to scare you or make it out to be a big problem, but to ensure you have as little problem as possible going from a conventional oil to a syn, I would run some high mileage oil runs in between.

Think of it as a tune up before putting on a performance part.
wink.gif




What do you mean by synthetic here? Does Group III oils also have a high amount of detergent that may reveal leaks in a high mileage engine or is it only applicable to group IV/V oils? After all a group III is a highly refined mineral oil although it's called synthetic...
 
PP/M1/SynPower/cheap Amsoil will be fine for 7500 miles ~12000 km. Denso is average. I'd probably buy the CarQuest which would be WIX filters here.

If cold starting is really a problem, synthetic will help but you might consider spring/fall changes with 5-20 in winter and 5-30 in summer on conventional as well.
 
So what would a good HM oil be to use? I have a bottle of Canadian Tire Formula 1 High Mileage, but not much else.

All of this time I've been considering synthetics only!

Thanks again for all of the great explanations!
 
Originally Posted By: kilou
Originally Posted By: StevieC
There is no danger except you may see leaks or your oil filter may plug up with gunk as cleaning is going on. I would recommend a few 5K mile OCI's with a good HM oil before switching to a syn. This will ensure your engine is clean with soft seals and ready to accept synthetic with no issues.

Seals harden over time and conventional oils can increase this problem by leaving residue on the seals. Then a syn comes along cleans this junk up and you have a leak because the residue was plugging the gap between the shrunken seal and the engine.

Not trying to scare you or make it out to be a big problem, but to ensure you have as little problem as possible going from a conventional oil to a syn, I would run some high mileage oil runs in between.

Think of it as a tune up before putting on a performance part.
wink.gif




What do you mean by synthetic here? Does Group III oils also have a high amount of detergent that may reveal leaks in a high mileage engine or is it only applicable to group IV/V oils? After all a group III is a highly refined mineral oil although it's called synthetic...


IMO any syn, whether is be III, IV, V because they all contain some higher group content (excluding V of course) and generally a more stout additive package that will clean residues. Just their nature from what I have seen.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: LarryOil
So what would a good HM oil be to use? I have a bottle of Canadian Tire Formula 1 High Mileage, but not much else.

All of this time I've been considering synthetics only!

Thanks again for all of the great explanations!
Any HM can be used including the CT stuff. Valvoline HM just seems to be the best in that department, but any HM oil will work IMO and help to safeguard against leaks in your high mileage engine.
 
Originally Posted By: bepperb
PP/M1/SynPower/cheap Amsoil will be fine for 7500 miles ~12000 km. Denso is average. I'd probably buy the CarQuest which would be WIX filters here.

If cold starting is really a problem, synthetic will help but you might consider spring/fall changes with 5-20 in winter and 5-30 in summer on conventional as well.


I do run fall/spring changes, but I'm looking into getting a block heater, oil pan heater or an inline coolant heater. I'd be a little weary of running that thin of an oil.
 
I live not far from Cambridge (Near Hamilton) and experience the same weather as you. A 5w30 will be fine and it is what I run year round. Especially in your high mileage engine.
 
Based on your annual kilometers, climate, and desire to use a synthetic I'd run PP or M1 Nov. 1 to March 31st (5 months) and I'd run PZYB or another decent dino from April 1 to Halloween (7 months).

I have to admit I agree with StevieC, especially given the km's the car already has. If it were my car I'd use the above suggested 5/7 month OCI's with PZYB or equivalent. I've lived in Ontario and Calgary and I can tell you it gets quite a bit colder out here, and all my cars sit outside all winter. I've got UOA's to back up the fact that 5w30's do quite well in Canadian conditions.
 
Originally Posted By: Jim 5
Based on your annual kilometers, climate, and desire to use a synthetic I'd run PP or M1 Nov. 1 to March 31st (5 months) and I'd run PZYB or another decent dino from April 1 to Halloween (7 months).

I have to admit I agree with StevieC, especially given the km's the car already has. If it were my car I'd use the above suggested 5/7 month OCI's with PZYB or equivalent. I've lived in Ontario and Calgary and I can tell you it gets quite a bit colder out here, and all my cars sit outside all winter. I've got UOA's to back up the fact that 5w30's do quite well in Canadian conditions.


I can get Formula Shell from Costco for 2.50 a quart. Is that good for a summer run?
 
Run PP and an oem or M1 filter. Mobil 1 flows slightly better than PP. 2 6 month oil changes with PP are better than a 1 year oil change with Amsoil or anything else.
 
If your Toyota has some form of oil life monitor then I'd change over to a synthetic when the indicator tell you. The beands you mentioned are fine and will take you the distance you talked about easy. If your not sure then get an "extended" version to the oil for comfort. Change the oil when it's scheduled cuz any time more is a waste of your money.

Durango
 
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